Nursing management of the patient with acute myocardial infarction

Contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes have revolutionized the role of the nurse in the coronary care unit. No longer solely the agent of the physician's orders, today's coronary care unit nurse intimately works with the physician and other allied health technical personnel to help stabilize patients initially, to guide them through the early phases of therapy, to help them understand their disease, and to educate them as to their medications. In the process, the nurse gauges patient progress, is mindful of recurrent myocardial ischemia and alerts others to its presence, identifies complications of thrombolytic therapy and PTCA, is alert to potentially malignant rhythm disturbances, and finally is the advocate of patient rehabilitation. Thus, the coronary care unit nurse plays a great role in the modern care of the patient with a myocardial infarction and materially contributes to patient recovery.